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against her hand, his face rough from his whiskers. She felt butterflies take flight in her stomach as he
pulled her even closer and lowered his head to hers.
The door burst open suddenly and Genevieve jumped back. She put her hand to her chest, over her
pounding heart, and looked at a wide-eyed, disheveled Worthington. Even his normally obedient white
hair was standing up all over his head.
"Am I dreaming?"
Kendrick frowned at him. "Eggs, ham, bacon, porridge, fresh rolls, some of those pancakes Gen likes so
much and whatever else is in the icebox. And be quick about it. I'm starving."
Genevieve reached out and caught her butler as he swayed. He looked like he wanted to cry.
"I think I need a brandy," he whispered.
Genevieve understood the feeling completely.
"After you prepare my meal," Kendrick barked. "And I want a chocolate milk shake. Make haste, man.
And call down to the village and make sure Adelaide's brother is about. We've a wedding to see
accomplished." He shut the shower curtain with a snap.
Worthington put his shoulders back, dragged his hands through his hair and retreated from the bathroom.
Genevieve swallowed nervously. A wedding? So soon? She eased herself up onto the counter again.
Maybe Kendrick was teasing her.
He shut off the water with a curse.
"These tanks are too bloody small," he grumbled, flinging the curtain back. "How is a body supposed to
enjoy a shower that lasts such a short time?"
Genevieve would have answered, but the words got stuck in her throat. Kendrick dragged his hands
through his hair, leaving his body fully bared and flexed for her perusal. And what a magnificent body it
was. His muscles were sleek and beautiful, not bulky and clumsy. Broad shoulders tapered down over a
washboard stomach to slim hips and a flat belly.
She took in the sight of his groin and couldn't stop herself from gaping. Heaven preserve her if he really
thought that was going to fit anywhere on her side of the room. The very thought made her want to bolt.
Legs. Yes, look at those legs. Sleek, powerful, tight. Covered with crisp, dark hair. In short, a perfect
specimen of a man. Evidently wearing that heavy mail for so many years had certainly paid off. Yes, sir, it
certainly had. Now if he would just cover up that finely packaged bit of masculinity so she could breathe
again.
"Are you finished yet?"
His voice was laced with lazy amusement. She jerked her gaze back to his and found that his pale eyes
were twinkling with unholy merriment. She jumped off the counter and reached for the door. A brawny
arm snaked around her waist and she shrieked in spite of herself.
"You aren't going anywhere," he murmured into her ear. "Sit you back on this counter and wait for me."
She pressed her hands against the door and prayed for deliverance. "Hurry and dry off, would you?"
He chuckled as he released her. She heard him drag the towel across his body, then heard his murmur of
pleasure. "Very soft cloths."
Genevieve nodded and continued to wait until Kendrick announced that he was finished. She turned
around in time to have his towel put into her hands. He looked at her innocently.
"How does one wear that?"
She put it around his waist and tucked it securely, all the while keeping her eyes glued to his. "Like that."
"Thank you," he said solemnly. "Now you will give me a razor? And might I use your toothbrush? I'll
send Worthington down for others this afternoon."
The toothbrush was produced and used rather skillfully. Shaving was accomplished in just as efficient a
manner, with only a nick or two. She watched him, then blushed as he grinned at her in the mirror. Then
his grin turned into a lazy smile that made her knees feel mushy under her. She backed away, intending to
slip out the door before he noticed what she was doing. Holy moly, she wasn't ready for this!
"I'm not finished with you," he said in a low voice, catching her around the waist. He lifted her onto the
counter then put his hands on either side other. "Indeed, I've not even begun."
Genevieve wanted to move, but found she couldn't. Her heart beat wildly against her ribs, but whether it
was from fear or nervousness, she couldn't tell. Little men made her nervous. Men the size of linebackers
made her quake. It wasn't that she'd ever been hurt by one; she'd just never gotten close enough to one
to know whether or not he would hurt her.
She had the feeling she was going to find out the truth of the matter immediately.
Genevieve watched as Kendrick took her hand in his, then slowly and carefully touched every part of her
skin, starting with her fingers and finishing with her wrists. No scar was overlooked, no burn dismissed.
He trailed his fingers over her palm, over knuckles, over the bones in her wrist. Then he brought her hand
to his cheek and held it there, closing his eyes and rubbing his face against her palm. He reached for the
other hand, then brought her fingers to his lips. He opened his eyes and looked down at her.
"You have beautiful hands."
It was the most astonishing compliment she had ever been given, made all the more remarkable by the
fact that for the first time she felt it might be true. He put her hand on her legs, then urged her knees apart
until he was standing between her thighs. Her instant protest died when he reached up to touch her hair.
And then she forgot everything but the look on his face and the gentle touch of his hand. He fingered a
lock of her hair as if he had never before touched anything like it, brought a handful to his nose to inhale
the fragrance, then to his lips to taste it.
"Very soft," he murmured as he rubbed several strands against his cheek. "Very beautiful."
Genevieve couldn't move as he put his hands on her shoulders and trailed his thumbs along her
collarbones, then up to her throat. His large, warm hands were gentle as he moved them up the sides of
her neck and back under her hair. She held her breath as he bent down toward her. She forced herself to
keep her eyes open and see him, instead of closing them and perhaps missing part of what was the most
astonishing experience of her life.
Kendrick kept one of his hands at the base of her neck while the other came back to cup her cheek. He [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]